Silent Star of July 1996

Lottie Lyell

She was born Lottie Edith Cox on 23 February 1890 in Sydney, Australia,
to Joseph Charles Cox and Charlotte Louise Hancock, growing up with two
sisters in Balmain. In 1907 she took the bold step of joining the
theatre as female lead in the Edwin Geach Company's An Englishman's
Home. During her time in the theatre, she adopted the stage name
of "Lottie Lyell" and began her close association with Raymond Longford
which was to last until her death.

In 1911 Lottie Lyell and Raymond Longford made the transition to films
with their supporting role in
Captain Midnight, The Bush King. Longford was soon
directing his own films, with Lottie Lyell taking the female lead
roles. Lyell quickly adapted to the new medium and Wright notes in
"Brilliant Career" that 'It is impossible to find an
unfavourable review of her work as a performer.' Many of her roles
featured her skills as an expert horsewoman and accomplished swimmer.

During the following years Lyell became one of Australia's most
popular actresses, appearing in over 20 films from 1911 until 1919.
Most of these films featured her as leading lady in addition to
other mostly uncredited directing roles. Her career culminated in
the classic film
The Sentimental Bloke, a film which is still intact today.

Following the success of The Sentimental Bloke, Lyell was
forced to reduce her acting career as she began her fight with
tuberculosis, and concentrate more on writing, directing and
producing. Her only acting credits in the nineteen-twenties were for
Ginger Mick (1920) and Rudd's New Selection (1921).
On 21 December 1925 she finally passed away, a victim of
tuberculosis.

Neither Lyell nor Longford's careers can be studied without also
studying the career of the other. They were partners throughout
their long association from the theatre through to Lyell's death.
Although not credited for much of this work, Lyell obviously contributed
beyond mere acting. It was only during her later films that she
received credits for these roles.

Our view of history is very kind to Longford. He is recognized as
a significant figure in the early Australian film industry. From a
cinema named after him to the
Australian Film Industry's
special award -
The Raymond Longford Award, Australia generously remembers him.
However, the name Lottie Lyell is unknown to most Australians. Those
who have heard of her usually remember her in the context of her
professional involvement with Longford.

Lyell and Longford maintained a close relationship throughout their
association, but never married due to Longford's marriage from which he
was unable to obtain a divorce. Following Lyell's death, Longford's
career foundered. This was due both to her death and the strength of
the large film companies and the control of film distribution in
Australia.

With The Sentimental Bloke being the only major portion
of her work which remains, we must only imagine how Lottie Lyell
appeared in most of her films. However, the little that remains
shows the skill with which she worked.

References

There is very little information available about Lottie Lyell. The
following are some sources of information on Lottie Lyell.

"Don't Call Me Girlie (1985)", A Double L Films production

A survey of the role of women in the Australian cinema from the
beginning to 1940 using interviews and archival footage.